Assemblage of coastal batoids in northern Peru: Preliminary knowledge

This preliminarily study aims at increasing our understanding of an assemblage of coastal batoids on the northern coast of Peru by determining species composition, body size structure and its behaviour in marine-coastal zone of Los Organos, Piura Region, Peru. During 20 field trips, between the years 2016, 2017, and 2019, eighty-six individuals were sampled belonging to eight species: Zapteryx xyster (n= 22), Narcine entemedor (n= 11), Urobatis tumbesensis (n= 7), Urotrygon chilensis (n= 40), Pseudobatos planiceps (n= 1), Urobatis halleri (n= 1), Gymnura crebripunctata (n= 2), Aetobatus laticeps (n= 2). In the study area, a predominance of adult females was observed for Z. xyster, N. entemedor and U. chilensis. These preliminary results suggest that during the morning some batoid species (i.e., Z. xyster, N. entemedor, U. chilensis) use the coastal zone to rest since they are found inactive and partially or totally buried in the sand - N. entemedor could be also hunting through ambush. Future studies should determine if this is a gestation area for some of these batoid species.

Automated summary

This preliminary study increases our understanding of a coastal batoid assemblage on the northern coast of Peru by examining species composition, body size structure, and behavior. The study suggests that certain batoid species rest in the coastal zone during the morning and may use it as a gestation area.